FRIENDS OF SIZA works to:
-
Provide food, water, clothes, and other basic necessities for the vulnerable children and orphans served by SizaBantwana
-
Give financial assistance to cover the costs of children’s medical care
-
Give financial assistance for school uniforms and necessary school supplies
-
Support the care centers and communal facilities where volunteers cook food, serve meals, tutor, and have daily gatherings with the children
-
Support training for the care workers and volunteers to better address the children’s social, emotional, and academic needs
-
Provide educational and financial assistance for child programming such as camps and the reading program
-
Provide financial assistance to build a new care and multipurpose center
Connection:
Additionally, we connect 4 area schools to the children in South Africa served by SizaBantwana:
-
Jefferson Elementary School in Janesville, WI
-
Evansville High School in Evansville, WI
-
Kennedy Elementary School in Janesville, WI
-
Parkview Elementary School in Orfordville, WI
Board of Directors:
As a charitable organization, Friends of SizaBantwana is governed by the following devoted volunteers:
Jennifer Schrab, President
Robin Booth, Vice President
Laura Laursen, Secretary
Kelly Corey, Treasurer
Sarah Cordio, Fundraising Coordinator
Shilo Habeck, Marketing Director
history:
2014: Jennifer Schrab, a National Board Certified Teacher from Wisconsin, receives a Fund for Teachers grant to study in South Africa. As part of the grant, she connects her local elementary school to a nonprofit called SizaBantwana Childrens Benefit Organisation located in Hazyview.
2015: In an effort to grow the relationship between SizaBantwana Childrens Benefit Organisation and the elementary school where Jen teaches, a global penpal program is started, goods are collected and mailed to SizaBantwana, and 73 South African children are sponsored to go on their first field trip to Kruger National Park.
2016: Jen makes a second trip to Hazyview, South Africa bringing donated goods as well as money to help SizaBantwana and the children they serve. Her elementary school, family, and friends contribute generously.
2017: Jen invites a team of educators, including now board members, to join her on an eight day service trip to South Africa. Once again, their local elementary school, community, families, and friends contribute generously to SizaBantwana.
2018: The founders of SizaBantwana Childrens Benefit Organisation in South Africa, Frank and Minky Mashego, visit the United States including the elementary school they have partnered with for the past 5 years. Five suitcases of donations are sent back with Frank and Minky for the children served by SizaBantwana.
2018: Friends of SizaBantwana, Inc. is established and earns nonprofit status as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the United States.
2020: Unfortunately, our June 2020 service trip was canceled due to COVID-19.
2023: A team of ten volunteers join board members Jen, Kelly, and Shilo on an eight day service trip to Hazyview, South Africa. In addition to 13 suitcases of donations, two additional schools join the project and also contribute generously. With limited storage, means of travel, and time, the FoS team spends as much donated money as possible on food parcels, school uniforms, and other necessary items for the children served by SizaBantwana.
2024 and beyond: Our long-term plan is to continue raising money for SizaBantwana's new stand-alone care center, including a dependable water source, a kitchen, toilets, and electricity, and return to South Africa for another site visit and service trip in 2026.
our mission
Friends of SizaBantwana, Inc. provides charitable donations of goods and money to SizaBantwana Childrens Benefit Organisation, a registered nonprofit located in South Africa.
By creating Friends of SizaBantwana, donating money to the children in South Africa becomes easier and more accessible from the United States. American philanthropists can now make tax-deductible donations to the South African organization.
Our goal is to commit 100% of personal and corporate donations to the children served by SizaBantwana and the organization’s immediate needs.
GIVE TODAY TO support children at siza
